Your Garden and Your Dog!

Summer is year around in some place. It's cold around here, but, still, it is summer for some areas. For a lot of people that means that they can, at least for a few months, enjoy the two greatest loves in their life; their dog and their garden.

Unfortunately, the two do not always get along. The garden starts to grow. Visions of flowers, herbs and vegetables are in your head. Your dog also has visions...visions of playing in the green grass, in the shade of the batch of lilies that are growing in the corner. I know my black lab, Benny, loved to lie in the midst of the lilies and hide. He would stretch out like a torpedo. Heck one day I couldn't find him at all, I thought he was lost.

But, along with all those wonderful visions comes danger for your dog. So, here are a few tips and tricks for you.

- Remember, Bored dogs get into trouble. A dog needs a walk, no matter how big your property. A dog needs a walk, that steady, fast forward walk.

- Teach your dog a cue; one sentence that means "get out of the garden". I did that with my two, and it works! It means you have to spend a little extra attention on your dog at the beginning. But it works. By the way, this is also good if you take your dog visiting. It means your dog will learn to respect all gardens.

- There are pet friendly "pet repellents" available. Please, make sure that they are safe. A beautiful garden is not worth the life of your pet.

- At the beginning of the season, if you have a place you don't want your dog to go, put down some bristled twigs; it will reinforce the "get out of the garden" phrase you will say when your dog goes to that spot.

And mostly, please be aware for the Safety of your pets.

- Try to chose other than chemicals for lawn and garden care. Even organic garden products can be dangerous to your pets. If you have a need to use them, keep your pets away, usually for 24 hours.

- A lot of the garden fertilizers are made of "animal bone meal" which is very attractive to dogs. Please use an alternative. Become aware of what you use around your dog. Especially if you have a new dog or puppy.

- Also, certain plants are poisonous to dogs.

Become aware of what could hurt your pet, and have a great summer!

Ruth is actively involved with the internet. She is a wife, a stepmom a dog owner. She is married for almost 30 years. One of her dogs is a Certified Therapy Dog. Her passion is dog adoption for all and dog training. http://www.choose-dog-adoption.com/Blog & http://www.happypetstop.com/blog

Pet Insurance - Answering Your Questions

Most people are familiar with healthcare insurance for themselves and their family but what about their pets? Pet insurance is a new idea in insurance to help cover the four-legged members of the family. Granted, your workplace may not cover the insurance but it is very valuable to have in case your pet becomes sick. Routine veterinary care may not be expensive but if your pet was to become sick or injured, costs could quickly mount up and be beyond your ability to repay. The old adage of "better to be safe than sorry" is very true when it comes to insurance. It is better to have it and not need it than to find yourself with a sick pet and no way of paying the vet bills. Most people are unaware or inexperienced when it comes to pet insurance but this article will cover some of the basics when it comes to what to expect in pet insurance.

How much can I expect to pay for insurance?

Pet insurance rates, much like our insurance rates, will vary according to each person. Some insurance carriers decide the rate of their plans based on the person's credit score. Other underwriters do not use this method to determine the amount the insurance holder will need to pay each month. The average plan will run around $30 a month for a dog and $20 a month for a cat. There may be additional fees that vary according to the insurance underwriter. Always make sure and check the information before you buy the insurance policy. If you have any questions make sure and call the insurance company. If the wait is an impossible amount of time or they seem vague on their knowledge, go to another company. If they are that horrible with potential customer concerns imagine what they would be like if you were a customer.

Is there a co-pay or deductible?

Just as you pay a deductible for your own health insurance, pet insurance also has a deductible. But it is a significant amount lower. Most pet insurance deductibles are $50.00 per accident category. Pet insurance does not work in the same manner as typical healthcare insurance. At the time of the vet visit you will pay for the entire amount and then fill out a claim form that is then submitted to the pet insurance carrier. The carrier will pay you a set amount for that procedure. The costs allowed per procedure vary and only the insurance company can determine what percentage you will have to pay after the deductible.

How much out of pocket will I be expected to pay if my pet needs surgery?

Unfortunately the downside to pet insurance is that you will have to pay for the entire amount out of your pocket before the insurance company pays you a portion back. When you take your pet in for surgery you will need to take along a claim form that the veterinarian will complete. After completing the form and filling out the claim information, along with attaching copies of the receipts and invoices, you will mail or fax the information to the insurance. After reviewing the information the insurance company will mail out a check for the amount of the procedure they cover.

Some veterinary clinics will make payment arrangements with you in case of an emergency. If you have a long history of good payments to your vet, you can discuss this at a visit. Chances are high that he or she can work with you. The ultimate goal of both you and the vet is a healthy and safe pet.

Is there a limit on what my pet insurance will pay out?

Yes, there is a limit on how much of the procedure is covered by the insurance company. This amount varies depending on which insurance plan you select, what your deductible is and how much the actual procedure runs. When you sign up for pet insurance the company will provide you with a list of procedures they cover along with how much per procedure is covered.

Can my pet be turned down for insurance?

The great thing about pet insurance is that your pet cannot be turned down. It does not matter if it is elderly or young. Most insurance policies have a fourteen day waiting period before the insurance is effective. They also may include a stipulation regarding pre-existing conditions. One common condition that is included in the insurance policy is for an ACL tear. These require a twelve month waiting period before any reimbursement.

To discover more click here Best Pet Insurance also head on over to Compare Pet Insurance as well as Pet Health Insurance In Ontario

Problems With A Barking Dog?

For some people it is an offence to have a barking dog around them, they think that dogs should be seen and not heard. This is slightly unfair given that the bark is a dog's voice and like yourself it uses it to communicate.

In some instances of course you want your dog to bark loudly such as when a suspected burglar approaches or if you fall into trouble of some sort and need urgent assistance. In most cases your dog is just trying to talk to you, perhaps he is just happy about something, dog obedience training will help you to find this out for sure.

The problem is that the language barrier between barking dogs and humans is well nigh impenetrable. Therefore, you are forced to resort to the facts of the situation in which your dog is barking and try to understand from its body language just what it is trying to say.

Apart from that many people ask just why do dogs bark? Dogs will always bark but the problem is sorting out what the good reasons are.

Naturally they will bark when they are happy about something such as greeting you on your return or perhaps they are happy about running around in the park.

Some dogs having barking bred into to them such as toy dogs or sporting breeds where they are trained to bark in order to notify their owners of the presence of a particular quarry being hunted. Other dogs like the guarding breeds are trained only to bark when a threat is perceived.

One of the good reasons as to why your dog barks is simply to warn you of the presence of strangers. I assume that you want this to continue as many people use dogs for just this purpose.

Again the context of the situation will help you to decide the likely cause. But of course it is not fair for you to try to shut the dog up. She may be communicating for a very good reason, you just need to spend some effort in understanding her.

However, dogs are not stupid animals there are situations where they realise that they can use their bark to annoy or force their owner into a particular action. Bullying by barking is something you should never allow your dog to do.

For instance you dog may have decided that it is time to play and continues barking until you give in and drop what you are doing to amuse her. The problem here is that the dog then learns that all she has to do is to bark whenever she wants something and you will oblige.

This can get very wearing after a quite short period of time. The best approach would have been to show the dog that it cannot get its own way by giving it the cold shoulder.

Just take no notice and turn your back on your dog to show your displeasure. After repeated actions your dog should eventually get the message.

A gentle reminder that walks and playtimes are to be had at your convenience, not when your dog barks to demand them. This teaches your dog respect and hopefully makes for a quieter household with limited barking dog problems.

Consult a good book on dog obedience training like SitStayFetch to solve many of the problems you will encounter when you are training your dog.

Parrot Training for Beginners

It's not difficult at all to get started with training your pet parrot. You can start by teaching your bird a few basics, and this is true whether your pet has been with you a few days or a few years. The step-up command is easy to teach, and it is also one of the most helpful things you can teach your parrot as well. In other words, you tell the bird to "step up" and it should immediately step onto your hand.

So why is teaching step-up important to you and your parrot? It makes it easier to take your bird from its cage, for one thing. Step-up also comes in handy when a parrot climbs up to your shoulder, which they sometimes do even when you try not to allow it. Parrots sometimes will bite when you try to get them off of your shoulder. A bird that has been trained to step up will be easier to deal with in this situation. And if you ever find your bird in a dangerous situation, the step-up command could literally be a life saver. Plus, it teaches the parrot to cooperate with you, which as you can imagine is an important advantage as well. This is why people who are experienced with parrots often recommend beginning training with teaching the bird to step up.

Start Training Your Bird to Step Up

It is generally very easy to teach a bird to step up to your hand. You slowly place your hand so that it is in front of your bird at around the height of its feet and in a normal speaking tone, give the command to "step up." Remember that your bird doesn't understand our language, so it will learn what these words mean over time. For now, you can gently push your finger against your bird's lower stomach area to push it backwards just a little. In most cases, the parrot will step onto your finger as you give this gentle push. Be sure to enthusiastically praise your bird when he steps up correctly. You can then ask your bird to step-up a few additional times, encouraging your bird to go from one hand to the other. Be sure to give the step-up command each time.

Parrot Still Doesn't Willingly Step Onto My Hand

Some birds grab a hold of the perch and won't let go for anything. Who knows what is going on inside their heads, but this is how you handle this situation. While continuing to hold your one hand in front of the bird, move your other hand behind the bird and hold it a few inches behind it as if you are about to pick it up from behind. Most parrots don't like to be picked up this way, and this action gives the bird a choice of either that or stepping up to your hand. Nine times out of ten, the parrot will choose to step up. Always remember to enthusiastically praise your bird when it does the correct behavior.

Keep Practicing with Your Bird

Be sure to keep up the practice with your parrot. Practice daily at first, and then do semi-regular practice sessions throughout the bird's life to reinforce this behavior. If you do this, you'll find your bird is easier to handle and it won't be nearly as bad when the "terrible twos" hit. And there you go! You've just taken your first step (pun intended) towards becoming a parrot training expert.